EDF 5135: Adolescence

Course Objectives

 By completing this course, students will gain knowledge in 5 primary domains related to adolescent development: nature of developmental psychology, biological and cognitive development, contexts within which adolescents live, social and emotional development, and adolescent problems. Students will be able to:

  1. Discuss 6 theories of development and their impact on the study of adolescents
  2. Distinguish between biological and environmental influences in development and discuss their dynamic interaction.
  3. Describe the process and stages of puberty.
  4. Describe Piaget's theory of cognitive development and use this theory to describe adolescent behavior.
  5. Identify myths related to adolescent interactions with the primary family and describe specific methods to increase adolescent family unity.
  6. Describe changes in adolescent-peer interaction over the course of adolescence and identify methods suitable to help adolescents maintain positive peer relationships.
  7. Identify changing needs of adolescents in relation to school settings, and appropriate responses schools can make.
  8. Use knowledge of cultural differences to describe varying ranges of adolescent behavior and needs.
  9. Describe Erikson's stages of development and illustrate this theories utility in working with adolescents and young adults.
  10. Identify important gender differences in adolescence and describe current theories of gender growth and development; discuss facilitating positive gender identity.
  11. Understand the range of sexual behaviors that adolescents engage in; describe methods that have been shown effective in decreasing dangerous behaviors; differentiate healthy sexuality from deviance and pathology and discuss methods of fostering healthy sexual identity development.
  12. Identify at least 2 different theories of moral development and discuss the limits of attempting to teach moral behavior.
  13. Describe the role of work and career motivation in the life of the developing adolescent.
  14. Identify specific interventions that have proven useful in decreasing adolescent problems such as depression, substance use, and juvenile delinquency.
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